Sunday 19 February 2017 14:40, UK
After almost four months of waiting, Rugby League is back and we now get a February feast with four games in four days.
We've all been starved of Betfred Super League action, now we get to see if our best are better than their best. I'm referring of course to the champions of the NRL, Cronulla, and the most successful team in modern day Australian Rugby League history, the Brisbane Broncos.
There's something very special about the Anglo-Aussie sporting rivalry. It's led to engrossing battles across numerous sports for over 100 years, but it requires both sides to keep this rivalry alive. Last year's games were one-sided contests.
The three NRL teams scored a total of 21 tries in comparison to just the five scored by Leeds, Wigan and St Helens. Will it be any different this season? My heart says yes.
Both Warrington and Wigan have recent experience of playing against NRL opponents. The Wolves were a bit unlucky when they lost to St. George-Illawarra two years ago. They were a bit unlucky in the last two major finals of 2016 and I just have a feeling that the bounce of the ball will start to fall their way more often in 2017.
"I've read some pessimistic and negative articles about the Super League recently, but two wins to the home teams on Saturday and Sunday will change all that."
Victory against the Brisbane Broncos could well turn out to be a pivotal moment in the club's history. Winning would give them a level of self-confidence that would be invaluable for the rest of the season and beyond. If they can beat Brisbane, they can beat the rest of Super League - but do they have the skill under pressure to send Wayne Bennett home without a win?
We've all heard the sporting cliche that winning becomes a habit. If that's true, does the opposite also apply? I know very little about the brain and how our subconscious plays a part on our future actions, but I wonder if the Wolves will develop a negative complex if they lose here in another big game.
As with all great challenges there is a degree of pressure, and this offers the best possible dress rehearsal for October 7 2017. Can they handle it this time?
A game against an Australian team has almost been an annual fixture for Wigan in recent years. This will be their fifth time meeting an NRL opponent in the last six years.
Worryingly for the Warriors, it had appeared as though they were getting closer up until last February. They were blown away by Brisbane before the half-time hooter and know that they need to start better against the Cronulla Sharks this year.
Sean O'Loughlin has been one of the best players in the world and a win in his home town would be a crowning glory. He has already played and won against Australia at Test-match level, I believe that he can repeat that with his own team.
A few years ago you may recall that I tipped Salford to win the Super League title. It was a radical call and one that has not come off. However, one of the main reasons why I made this bold prediction was because I'd heard a strong rumour that the Cronulla coach, Shane Flanagan, was coming over for a season to work at the AJ Bell stadium while he sat out a 12-month suspension from the NRL.
All of the reports that I hear tell me that he is a fantastic coach. Without going into too much detail, he's helped a club that isn't the richest, nor does it have the largest area of players to choose from, to become the champions in one of the most intensely competitive leagues in world sport.
It is remarkable and should act as an inspiration to all of the teams in the Betfred Super League who haven't yet been to the Grand Final.
I've read some pessimistic and negative articles about the Super League recently, but two wins to the home teams on Saturday and Sunday will change all that.
